Honey Offering Ceremony

Usually on the full-moon day of the tenth lunar month (around September or October), Thai people of Mon descent throughout the country perform an annual merit-making ceremony of offering honey to monks or “Tak Bat Nam Phueng” in Thai. Mon people believe that since honey is abundant in the summer time (the fifth month), but during this period it is rare, thus if they offer to the monks at this time, they will receive great merit. The ceremony thus has been practiced since the time of their grandparents. On this day, Mon residents will gather at a nearby temple with their offerings. Men and women of all ages, dressed in their traditional costume, bring with them honey, savoury food and luk yon, a special offering made for this event. However, due to the scarcity of honey at this time of the year, Mon residents in some communities have replaced it with white sugar.

Meanwhile, in the old days all household would prepare their own luk yon. But today people can buy ready-made luk yon from their neighbours. Those who prefer to make their own luk yon will soak sticky rice in water before cooking it in coconut milk and adding black beans, then wrapping the mixture in phong leaves or screw pine leaves (Bai Toei). After tying each packet into a triangular shape with banana string, it is then steamed. The honey offering ceremony begins in the early morning. The monks’ alms-bowls are placed in three rows outside the temple compound; one for rice, one for luk yon, and the other one for a variety of savoury dishes. Honey is to be offered after that. A line of bowls is placed in the temple hall to receive honey. After all offerings are made to the monks, the monks then eat luk yon with honey. The ceremony ends after the monks give a blessing chant to the merit-makers who then retire to their home.